HALO Group

So many times while we are out in the community kind hearted, generous people see our teammates and want to show some love! Today was one of those days. So if you see or hear this truck, flag him down and tell him HALO sent you! Big thank you to Little Jimmy’s Italian Ices for sharing that deliciousness!

Thank you to our 2026 5K Event Sponsors- we’re looking forward to a great event!

We sure do appreciate our 2026 HALO 5k sponsors! It’s not too late to become one!

We’re hosting a plant sale to benefit teammates who are on scholarship, and we’d love your support! If you’re interested, pricing is listed in the photos, and we accept Venmo, tap pay, and cash. Our address is 2097 US Hwy 41 (HALO at Grace Village)
Thank you so much for supporting The HALO Group! 🌿

For most kids, a lost toy means checking under the bed. For 12 year old Ryan Paul of Woodbridge Township, New Jersey, losing his teddy bear Freddy felt like a real emergency. So in March 2019, he did what he’d been taught to do when something goes wrong. He called 911.

Ryan has autism, and Freddy is more than a stuffed animal. It’s his comfort, his routine, his safety net. When the small brown bear disappeared in his bedroom, Ryan didn’t tell his parents. He picked up the phone.

Woodbridge Police policy requires officers to check on every 911 call, even hang ups. Dispatcher Nancy Allmaras sent the call out, and Officer Khari Manzini headed to the Paul home. Manzini isn’t just any officer. He’s completed specialized autism recognition and response training through POAC Autism Services, a New Jersey nonprofit that has trained more than 67,000 first responders.

When Manzini knocked, Ryan’s father Robert Paul answered. Robert is a Woodbridge firefighter. He had no idea his son had called. “I said, ‘Ryan, did you call 911?’” Robert told ABC7. “And he said ‘yes’, and I said why? And he said, ‘Teddy bear rescue.’”

Instead of treating it as a nuisance call, Manzini listened. He talked with Ryan, then helped him search the room. It didn’t take long. They found Freddy beside Ryan’s bed. “We found the teddy bear, the teddy bear was OK,” Manzini said. “He was in safe hands, no injuries, nothing like that.”

The tension disappeared instantly. Ryan hugged Manzini and asked to take pictures with him. For Ryan, it wasn’t just about the bear. He got to meet a real police officer who understood him.

Robert Paul posted on Facebook afterward to thank Manzini for his kindness and understanding. He also thanked dispatcher Nancy Allmaras for sending the right officer to the call. He joked that as a firefighter, he was “offended” his son didn’t ask him for help first. He also said he’s proud Ryan knew to call 911, adding they just need to fine tune when to use it.

POAC Autism Services later shared the story as an example of why their training matters. First responders who understand autism can turn a confusing situation into a calm one.

For Ryan, the ending was simple. Freddy was back. The fear was gone. And a 911 call became a positive memory instead of a scary one.

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